Google launches YouTube Leanback for TV

Google has launched a version of YouTube aimed at those that view the video-sharing site on a big TV.

Full screen version of site aimed at living room

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Google has launched a version of YouTube aimed at those that view the video-sharing site on a TV.

YouTube Leanback is a pared-down version of the standard YouTube homepage and features a big window and a 'feed' of selection of videos tailored to your interests displayed as thumbnails at the bottom.

As soon as a user navigates to page, the videos begin to play immediately.

"Just as its name implies, YouTube Leanback is all about letting you sit back, relax and be entertained," the company said in a blog.

YouTube says the 'feed' is based on a user's YouTube settings and preferences, including content from your subscriptions and "videos your friends are sharing on Facebook" for those that have connected their YouTube account to your Facebook account.

"They [the feed videos] play in full screen and high definition, continuously. There's no need to click, search, or browse, unless you want to, of course. Watching YouTube becomes as easy as watching TV.

Leanback also offers content from YouTube TV which includes comedy, entertainment and news-based TV shows.

The cursor keys are used to skip forwards through videos in the feed and even access controls to pause, stop, rewind and fast forward the video clips.

"You won't need your mouse for this experience," YouTube said.

Leanback is currently in Beta. However, it is thought it will be included in Google TV, which was unveiled in May.